Change speed device and control therefor



Aug. 6, 1940. J, w H LE 2.210.239

CHANGE SPEED DEVICE AND CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Oct. 1, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fl'gJ I In!) ezfi'or Jss'e WHaIe flttorlzglla' J. W. HALE CHANGE-SPEED DEVICE'AND CONTROL THEREFOR Aug. 6, 1940.

Fi1ed.0ct. 1, 1937 z Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor {use WHaIe flfimne .3

Patented A ug. 6,1940

UNITED STATES, PATENT "oF-Flcs Jesse w. Hale, Newton, Male. Application October 1, 1937, Serial No. 186,815

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in change speed devices'andin controls therefor.

In accordance with my presentinvenrtion, I

have provided a novel fluid pressure operated 5 device for effecting the gear ratio changes and a novel electrical control therefor which in the illustrative embodiment is directly operated by the. speedometer and either manually or automatically dominated as required by desired operlo ating conditions.

In the operationof change speed devices utilizing the engine lubrication circulatory. system, the speed of the vehicle results in an accumulation of oil in the rear of the change speed device is with the result that the possibility of leakage is materially increased. In accordance with -my present invention, this diiliculty can be avoided completely only by the use of means to pump the accumulated oil back to its source.

I so In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through my device. r

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross section along the lines 2-2. m

25 Fig. 3 is a detailed view 01' a scavenging pump.

Fig. 4 is a schematic illustration of the electric circuit andthe'speedometer. I

Fig. 5 indicates one type of automatic control.

Fig. 6 illustrates a manual control, and

.Flg. 7 is a view showing a convenientpedal arrangement for operating the control suggested in Fi 6. I I

At I, I have illustrated a casing having aligned ports for the drive shaft Land the driven shaft 3. The shafts 2 and I carry gears l and 5 reby a housing 8 mounted on the shafts 2 and I for rotation independently thereof. At 8, I have indicated bushings. The innefsurface of the rear wall of the casing lis provided with an annular flange. I and the housing 8 carries a similar flonge H. One way brakes are indicated at I 2 to prevent retrograde rotation of the housing I to provide'a suitable low speed.

To provide a suitable high speed, I have provided clutch means to lock the casing I to the drive shaft 2. 'The clutch means consist of clutch plates l3 .carried by the housing flange M- and clutch plates l carried by the flanged disc Ii of the sleeve I! slidably splined to the drive shaft 2. i In accordance .with'myinvention, the clutch 55 means are moved together or apart as, for examspectively while theshaft S fer the idler gear I in mesh with each of the gears 4 and 5 is supported 'ple, by rotating the nut member I. in either direction on the threaded hub member I. The member it is recessed as atto receive the flanged end 2| of the sleeve l1. Bearings 22 are positionedin the recess 2| oneach side of the 5 flange 2|. While the nut ll maybe rotated by. any means, I prefer to utilize the oil pressure available from the lubrication circulating system of the engine and to employ the same system for the lubrication of my change speed device.

At 24 I have shown a toothed member rotat-- ably mounted on the casing I and in mesh with the external teeth 25 on the-nut member II. The member 24 includes a pair of radial piston blades 28 and TI disposed in the sector shaped 15 cylinder 28 divided into the compartments 2! and 30 by the partition 3|. I From a source of oil under pressure, such as the crank case .of the-engine. (not shown), an oil conduit 32 leads to the valve casing 33 from 29 whlchports 34' and." communicates with the compartments 2! and 30 respectively. An, oil conduit ll entends from the conduit 3! to the casing I.

. Within the casing 33 is a valve member l1 :5 having a fluid passage therethl'ough formed to connect either. the port 34 or the port 35 with the oil conduit 32. .The valve member 31 is formed with longitudinal bores ll and 39 to connect one port to the relief conduit 40' communieating with the casing I when theother port is connected to the conduit 32.

' A spring Ii connects each 01 the blades 26 and "to the partition 3! to rotate the member 24 to a desired positionwhen the valve member '5 31 is neutrally positioned andeach piston is provided with an aperture to permit the. pressure in the compartments 29 and 30 to be relieved when the springs II are in control- I The valve member 31 includes a control arm 42 normally under the control of springs 43 and v .N which maintain the arm 42 in a neutral position... The controlal-m, as indicated in Fig. 2; may

-be used as a manual control in case of failure of the electric circuits or maybe used as the sole 3 control of a change speed device A solenoid ll is adapted to move the arm 42 to position the valve member 31 to direct the flow of fluid under pressure into the compart ment 2! to act against the piston blade 28 and a turn the member 24' to advance the nut It to efl'ect engagement of the clutch means. A solehold I! isadaptedtomovethe arm 42 toposition the valve .member 31. to direct the fluid under pressure into the compartment ll to disengage the clutch means and as above stated the control arm 42 and the piston blades 26 and 21 are neutrally positioned by the springs 43, 44, and II respectively.

Rearwardly of the casing l is a casing 50 having a passage in communication with the 03-8".

'ing 1' so that accumulations of oil resulting from the movement of the vehicle will result in a flow of oil to the casing 50. Oil return 52 from the casing l leads to the source and may, if desired, be connected to the intake of the oil pump of the engine lubricating system. The oil return 52 and the oil passage 5| establish the fluid level in the casing I.

A gear 53 on the drivenshaft 3 meshes with the worm 54 which lies partly in the cylinder 55 from which an oil conduit 56 leads to the crank case, threads on the worm 54 acting as a pump to provide a positive oil system for my device and preventing accumulations of oil in the casings l and when the vehicle is moving. The worm 54 rotates the speedometer shaft 51 which, as shown in Fig. 4, carries arms 58 to which. are pivoted Only one of the contacts may at one time bear against the contact surface 62 of the drum 5| as the space between them is less than the arc of a the contact surface 52.

. The arm ilmay be mounted inany suitable way for adjustment relative to the drum and in Fig. 4 I have suggested it be supported by the shaft 51 for movement independent thereof so that the high speed contact may be influenced by the drum 6| at a desired speed of the driven shaft as evidenced by the-speedometer. while, of course, the circuits may be closed by an ordinary governor I prefer to utilize the speedometer,

- as the vehicle speed is more directly represented and an accurate control is thus readily provided. An electric type of spedometer may, of course, beutilized.

While movement of the arm 53 may be entirely a matter of manual selection, in Figs. 5 to 7 I have indicated certain structures more adapted .to dominate control over the speedometer control to meet the desired operating conditions than the manual movement of the-arm 53. y

In Fig. 5 I have shown a spring 51 disposed to I move the arm 63 to require. higher speeds of the vehicle to close the high speed contact 55. At 58 I have shown a casing having a conduit 55' for connection with the intake manifold of an automobile. In the casing 58 is a1 piston 10 connected to the arm 53 so that the speed and torque will be fairly represented by the suction and for example, as the suction decreases the spring 61.:

will move the arm 53 so that higher vehicle speeds will be required toclose the contact 65.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown. a control which permits domination of the circuits coincidental to. acceleration. A spring 1| controls movements of the arm 63 in one direction while movement of the arm 65 in the other direction results from movement of the pedal 12 from which there is a connection with the arm II, as, for example, the

'3 actuate said member indicated flexible cable 13 traveling over the pulley 'l4.'

If desired, the pedal 12 may be the accelerator pedal or as shown in Fig. 7 it may be disposed adjacent to an accelerator pedal. so that it may be operated coincidentally thereto or the accelerator pedal 15 may be moved without domihating the speedometer control.

In accordance with my invention I am thus .able to provide a simple and accurate control for a change speed device which may be adjusted as desired by the operator and dominated as required by operating conditions.

- What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a changespeed device, a clutch, means to engage and disengage said clutch, a rotatable gear member to operate said means, a sector shaped compartment, said member including radially disposed members in said compartment, valve controlled fluid pressure means to actuate said piston members to rotate said member in silient means tooppose said piston members to actuate said first-named means when said valve means are inoperative.

3. In a change speed device, a clutch, means to engage and disengage said clutch, a rotatable gear member to operate said means, a sector shaped compartment, said member including a pair of radially disposed piston members in said compartment, valve controlled fluid pressure means to actuate said piston members, resilient means to oppose said piston members to actuate said first-named means when said valve means are inoperative, and an aperture to permit fluid displacement by said piston when operated by said resilient means.

4. In a change speed device, a clutch and means to engage and disengage said clutch, a rotatable gear member to operatesaid means, said member including a pair of radial blades, a casing for said member including a partition disposed to establish with said casing and said blades a pair of compartments, a conduit for fluid under pressure to each of said compartments, and a valve to direct said fluid into either compartment to clutch. 5. In a change speed device, a clutch and means to engage and disengage said clutch, a pivotable gear member to operate said means, said member including a pair of radial blades, a casing for said member including a partition disposed to establish with said casing and said blades 9. pair of compartments, a springto establish a neutral position of said blades, a conduit for fluid under pressure to each of said compartments, and a valve to direct saidfluid into either compartment to actuate said member.

6.-In a change speed device, a clutch and means to engage and disengage said clutch, a pivotable gear'to operate said means, said member including a pair of radial piston blades, a casing for said member including a partition disposed to establish with said casing and said to engage or disengage said blades a pair of compartments, a conduit for 75 fluid under pressure to each of said compartments, a valve to direct said fluid into either compartment to actuate said member, a valve control means, a pair of solenoids to actuate said valve control means, and an electric circuit to actuate each solenoid.

"I. In a change speed device, a 1 clutch ,and means to engage and disengage said clutch, said means including a hub, a nut threaded thereon,

a pivotable gear member in mesh with said nut, said memberincluding a pair of radial 'pis-' ton'blades, a casing for said member including a partition disposed to establish with said casing and said blades a pair of compartments, a

18 conduit for fluid under pressure to each of said compartments, a valve to direct said fluid into either compartment to actuate said member,.

valve control means, a pair of solenoids to actuate said valve control means, an electric circuit B0 to actuate each solenoid, and adjustable speedometer controlled means to close said circuits alternatively atselected speeds.

8. In a change speed device for a drive and driven member, a clutch and means to engage l5 and disengage said clutch, said means including a hub, a nut threaded thereon, a pivotable gear member in mesh with said nut, said member including a pair of radial blades, a casing for said member including'a partition disposed to establish with said casing and .said blades a pair of compartments, a conduit for fluid under pressure to each of said compartments, a valve to direct said fluid into either compartment to actuate said member, valve control means, a pair of solenoids to actuate said valve control means,

an electric circuit to actuate each solenoid, and adjustable speedometer controlled means to close said circuits alternatively at selected speeds, and

means operable coincidental to acceleration of u said drive member to vary the action of-said speedometer controlled means.

9. A control for a change speed device for a .drive and driven member comprising a speedometer drum including. a contact surface, an adjust- "5 able radial arm mounted coaxially with reference to said drum, an arcuate member carried by said arm, a pair of contacts carried by said arcuate member-and spaced for alternate engagement with said surfacaand a circuit to each contact, each. so of said circuits including a solenoid adapted to control the operation of said device.

10. A control for a change speed device coin- Y prising a speedometer drum including a contact surface, an adjustable radial arm mounted co- 5 axially withreference to said drum, an arcuate member carried by said arm. a pair of contacts carried by said arcuate member and spaced for alternate engagement with said surface, a circuit to each contact; each ofsaid circuits includo ing a solenoid, means coincidentally operable on acceleration of said drive member .to move said arm in one direction, and a spring disposed to move said arm in the other direction.

11. A control for a change speed device for it 'use with a prime mover having an intake com- 3 prising 'a speedometer drum includingia contact surface, an adjustableradial, arm mounted axially with reference to said drum, an arcuate member carried by said arm, a pair of contacts r0 carried by said arm and spaced for alternate en- N gagement with .said surface, and a circuit to each contact, each of said circuits including a solenoid, a spring disposed topuli said arm in one direction,-'a cylinder, a pistonin said cylinder 5 connected to said arm, and a, conduit for said efl'ect said circuit as desired of said cylinder for connection with said intake whereby said piston will oppose saidspring dependent on the intake suction, I

12. A control for a change speed device comprising a speedometer drum including a contact surface, an adjustable radial arm mounted coaxially with reference to said drum, an arcuate member carried by said arm, a pair of contacts carried by 'saidarm and spaced for alternate engagement with said surface, and a circuit to each contact, each of said circuits including a solenoid, a spring disposed to pullsaid arm in one direction, an accelerator'pedal, apedal adjacent thereto and operable coincidentally therewith, and a connection from said second pedal to said arm to move said pedal against the tension of said spring.

13. In a change speed device for a motor vehicle, a clutch, means to operate said clutch, a pair of fluid pressure operated pistons to actuate said means to engage and to disengage said clutch, means to operate said pistons comprising a valve' controlled source of fluid under pressure, a circuit including a pair of solenoids to actuate said piston operating means, and means responsive to the driven shaft speed in control of said circuit to close said circuit to said solenoids alternately at desired speeds, means to inoperatively position said piston operating means when said circuits areopen, and means to vary the operation of said speed responsive means to by the operator of said motor vehicle.

14. In a change speed device to connect the drive and driven shafts of a motor-vehicle, a

-, clutch, means to operatesaid clutch,apair of fluid pressure operated pistons to actuate said means to engage and to disengage said clutch,

means to operate said pistons comprising a valve controlled source of fluid under pressure, a circuit includ ng, a pair of solenoids to actuate said piston operating means, and means responsive to the driven shaft speed in control of said circuitto close said circuit to said solenoids alternately at desired speeds, and means operable coincidental to acceleration of said drive shaft to vary the operation of said speed responsive erator of said vehicle. 1 I 15.; In a change speed device to connect the drive and driven shafts of a motor'vehicle having a throttle or the like, a clutch, means to operate said clutch, a pair of fluid pressure operated pistons toactuate said means to engage and to disengage said clutch, meansrto operate said pistons comprising a valve controlled source oi fluid under pressure, a circuit includinga pair of soleposing said solenoids to render said piston operating means inoperative, and means responsive means to efl'ect said circuit as desired bythe opnoids to actuate said valve, tension members opto the driven shaft speed in control of-said cirx hicle, a clutch, means to engage and disengage said clutch, 1. source of power to actuate said means, and means to control said power to actua 1 ate said flrst named means to eifect successive engagement and disengagement of said clutch at desired driven shaft speeds, said control means comprising a speedometer including a contact surface movable directly with fluctuations in driven shaft speed, and a pair of contacts spaced for alternate engagement by said contact surface and adjustable with reference thereto to permit said contacts to be engaged by said contactsurface at desired speeds of said vehicle as indicated by movement of said contact surface.

17. In a change speed device for a motor vehicle, a clutch, means to engage and disengage said clutch, a sourceof power to actuate said means, and means to control said power to actuate said first named means to effect successive engagement and disengagement of said clutch at desired driven shaft speeds, said control means comprising a speedometer including a contact surface movable directly with fluctuations in driven shaft speed, and a pair of. contacts spaced for alternate engagement by said contact surface and adjustable with reference thereto to permit said contacts to be engaged by said contact surface at desired-speeds. of said'vehicle as indicated by movement of said contact surface, and means to vary the position of said contacts with reference to said surface to effect acceleration as caused by operating conditions, said means being operable coincidentally with acceleration and effecting a movement of said contacts with reference to said surface to require contact thereby at different driven shaft speeds.

18. In a change speed device, a casing, a drive shaft, a driven shaft, means within said casing connecting said shafts and means to vary the ratio established by said connecting means, a fluid inlet in said casing, a second casing rearwardly of said first casing, a conduit between said casings disposed to establish a desired n'uid level in said first casing-and pump means in said secing.

and casing to exhaust fluid from said second cas- 19. In a change speed device, a casing, a drive shaft,v a driven shaft, means within said casing connecting said shafts and means to vary the ratio established by said connecting means, a fluid inlet in said casing, a. fluid outlet in said casing disposed to establish a desired fluid level therein, a second casing rearwardly of said flrst casing, a conduit between said casings disposed to establish a desired fluid level in said first casing and pump means in said second casing to exhaust fluid from said second casing.

driven shaft, means to connect said shafts atdiiferent ratios and means to control the operation of said connecting means including means responsive to the speed of said driven shaft, and an accelerator control, a member movable with said accelerator control, said speed responsive means including a freely rotatable drum and sion means opposing said rotating means, and means carried by said drum coactlng with said movable member to render said connecting means subject to the speed of said driven shaft and the position of said accelerator control. Jessa mun.

. means within said drum to rotate said drum, ten- 

